By David Adenekan
DID THE Punch Editorial painstakingly, study the issues of federalism in the United States of America (USA) before making this unfounded submission, that the states, in a third-tier federal system of government in the USA are responsible for the funding of the local government authorities?
The Punch Editorial Board blew it big time, this time around. What a fallacy!
I was a certified civil servant (Case Manager) with the City of New York for 5 years before I joined the corporate world (Halliburton and KBR).
In my payroll as an employee (Civil Servant) of the Human Resources Administration of New York City (the equivalent of Local Government Authority), I paid federal, state and city income taxes.
Also, there is a liquor tax in the city code (7573).
The liquor tax applies to businesses that sell alcoholic beverages which must collect taxes as outlined and remit them to the city. 0.29% per beer and 0.36% per gallon of alcohol containing 14% or less alcohol volume.
Yes, the money goes to the Local Government Authority (the City Of Chicago).
Furthermore, the Illinois Department of Revenue does not administer property tax. Property tax is the equivalent of tenement rate in Nigeria.
It is managed by the local governments, including cities, counties, and taxing districts.
Property tax goes into the local governments’ pockets.
This is one of the greatest way a third tier of government generates revenue to run its grassroot democracy.
This is a strong indication that the level of autonomy of the local government authorities in the USA cannot be overemphasized.
Fundamentally, it is a three tier of government; and each level of government devises means to generate revenue, IGR to run its government.
In addition, every level of government (federal, state and local) in the United States of America has its own three branches of government, namely: Executive, Legislative and the Judiciary.
The question is, where is The Punch getting its information from concerning true federalism in the USA?
My respect for Punch may dwindle if the Editorial Board does not do its research very well to make the correction that the local government authorities in the USA are funded by the state governments.
Moreover, the Punch Editorial Board was out of order to opine that, there are two levels of government in the USA, namely: federal and state governments.
This is not true. It is another fallacy. What is true, is that? It is a three tier of government that includes the local government authorities.
To me, it seems Punch National Newspaper, a foremost print media in Nigeria may have compromised the ethics of professional journalism, to be true with facts.
Suffice it to say, the states are not the ones funding the local government authorities in the USA.
Yes, there are federal government programmes like nutrition in education (for both elementary and high school students), Medicaid programme (for those in need of health coverage), affordable housing programme for the needy (section 8) and food stamps for low-income people that are funded by the federal government through the state governments to the local government authorities for efficient and effective grassroot administration.
The bottom line is that, the end users of the dividends of democracy is at the grassroot; and the local government authorities are the ones closer to the people.
In the final analysis, Punch Editorial Board should do its research very well before making such a submission; and should please do the needful to correct this wrong assertion.
Again, the Punch Editorial needs to retract that publication. It is just not true.
I am not just living in United States, I have lived through the system as a career person in both public and its corporate world.
Time will tell.
NB: May I also use this golden opportunity to say it clearly, that, this opinion is not the opinion of any group, including Afenifere USA and NADECO, USA. It is my humble opinion based on objective research and my close to three decades of working experience in USA.
David Adenekan writes from Chicago, Illinois; he Is the editor of Shekinah Magazine and a media expert.
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